Rapid-fire breech



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

A. MERGER. RAPID FIRE BREEGH MECHANISM.

No. 487,631. Patented Dec. 6, 1892.

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m?? fi 2 Sheets Sheet 2,

(N0 Model.)

M RAPID FIRE BR EROER. BEOH MECHANISM.

No. 487,631. Patented Dec. 6', 1892.

E g Q m HH II Him w z f i ikyf 4Q UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFONSO MERCER, OF NORFOLK, VIRGINIA.

RAPID/"FIRE BREECH MECHANlgM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent Net-487,631, dated December 6, 1892.

Application filed March 29, 1892.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFONSO MERCER, of- Norfolk, in the county of Norfolk and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cannons; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification, in which Figure l is a detail side elevation of a breech-loading cannon or gun embodying my invention and partly broken away to show some of the working parts, the breech-block being retracted and in the position it occupies when an exploded cartridge is to be removed or a fresh cartridge to be loaded into the gun. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the gun with breech-block closed. Fig. 3 is a detail sectional view illustrating the firing-pin-controlling cam-groove in the breech-block carrier, the position of the carrier in this figure being reversed. Fig. 4 is an end view of the carrier-sleeve, showing the breech-block in section and the camgroove. Fig. 5 is a rear end elevation. Fig. 6 is a top view of the breech-block removed. Fig. 7 is a top view of the carrier and breech-block removed. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the firingpin scar and operating devices thereof. Fig. 9 is a view of the breech end of barrel.

This invention is an improvement in rapidfiring guns, being especially designed for light ordnance; and its object is to provide a simple but efiicient and powerful breeeh loading cannon in which the firing of the gun may be automatically effected by the movement of the breech-block in closing and which can be loaded, discharged, the empty shell thrown 0E, and a fresh cartridge replaced and fired with great rapidity without the possibility of the cartridge being exploded before the breech-block is fully home and locked in the barrel.

Further objects of the invention are to provide devices by which the automatic action of the gun may be prevented and the time of firing thereof be controlled by trigger and line or otherwise at the will of the gunner.

The invention therefore consists, first, in a novel breech-block-operating mechanism and Serial No. 426,894. (No model.)

cartridge holder, placer, and remover; second, in a novel mechanism whereby a partial revolution of the breech-block after insertion in the gun-barrel will both lock the block and simultaneously cause first the cocking and then the releasing of the firing-pin, so that the instant the breech-block is absolutely locked in the gun-barrel the firing-pin is automatically released and explodes the charge; third, in novel devices for facilitating the removal of an exploded shell or the loading of a new shell into the barrel, and, fourth, in novel devices for controlling the movement of the firing-pin, so that while it will be always automatically cocked by the same movement of the lever which looks the breechblock in the barrel it will not be automatically released, and, finally, in certain other novel details of construction and combination of parts, hereinafter described and claimed.

Referring to the drawings by letters, Adesignates the gun-barrel, which may be rifled, smooth bore, or otherwise. This barrel is provided at its breech with partial or interrupted screw-threads A A, which are adapted to interlock with similar opposed threads on the breech-block, hereinafter described, as in any of the well-known formsof breech-block interrupt-ed thread-fastenings.

B is a carrier consisting, as shown,of a longitudinally-movable plate sliding in a slotted support A formed on the bottom of the gun at the breech thereof or otherwise rigidly connected to the gun, so that the plate B can slide under the breech of the gun, as indi cated in the drawings. This plate may be operated by means of a rack, pinion, and crank, as indicated in Fig. 2, or by hand, or any suitable mechanism and means. On the rear end of plate B is an annulus or sleeve 0, in which is journaled the tubular shank D of a rotatable breech-block D, which is of a size to fit within and close the breech of the gun, as shown,and provided with interrupted screw-threads adapted to interlock the threads of the barrel when the breech-block is inserted therein, as before set forth.

By moving plate B of course the breechblock can be put in or removed from the barrel. The shank D of the breech-block extends in rear of sleeve 0, and on it is rigidly mounted a collar E, which fits close to the iii and of sleeve C, and thus, in connection with the breech-block, prevents longitudinal movement of the shank or block in relation to the plate. The collar E is provided with a handle or arm E, by which the breech-block can he rotated.

11? is the firing-pin, extending through the thank D and having its forward end rerlluced and passing through an opening in block Din position to explode a cartridge, as usual.

115" is a stout helical spring surrounding the pin within shank D and confined in the shank by a collar or filling in the outer end thereof. The front end of the spring imiiinges against a collaiuor pin F fixed to the tiring-pin within the shank, so that when the pin is drawn backward oroutward the spring is tensioned. Normally the pressure of the spring on the pin is but slight and not sufiiriient to overcome the counter force of aspring it, slipped on the outer end of pin F and conlined between an adjusting-nut G on the end tilt pin and the end of shank D. By this means the point of the firing-pin can be adjusted and held in such position normally that it will not project beyond the face of the breech-block, so as to interfere with the handling of the cartridges; but when spring F is compressed its tension is so great that when released it will drive the pin forward with iutiricient violence to cause it to explode the lliilminate of the cartridge. This is a simple and eflicient rebounding firing-pin.

l is a stud secured to the firing-pin and projecting through a slot D in shank D within sleeve 0 and engaging a triangularham med way in the inner face of said sleeve in which the stud travels as the shank is turned. Said way is formed of threccommupleating slots 0 C C Slot 0 is at the front end of sleeve C and transverse thereto, so that when the stud is therein the shank and tiring-pin can turn without moving the pin longitudinally. Slot 0 is horizontal and communicates with the bottom of slot C and when the stud is therein the firing-pin can move longitudinally and freely in the shank. The extremities of slots C C are connected by a cam-slot C, which when the stud travels therethrongh causes the pin to move longitudinally and positively within the shank and tension-spring F.

lrhen the shank is in the position shown in Fig. 1, the stud F stands at the upperend uf slots 0 G and spring F consequently is relaxed. Then by giving the shank a quarterlurn by bringing handle E to a horizontal position the stud F turning with the shank and pin, is compelled to traverse slot 0, and in so doing forces the pin outward in the shank-tensioning spring F just as the quarter-rotation of the shank is completed. The stud reaches the lower end of slot C and enters the horizontal slot C The spring Fiinimediately drives the firing-pin forward in the shank with sulllcient violence to explode a cartridge in positisn in front thereof. The stud is thus driven through slot C and enters the lower end of slot C and when the handle E is turned back to an upright position stud F traverses slot. 0 and stops at the upper end thereof in position to enter slot C again as the handle is turned down, the rebound-spring of the firing-pin causing it to recedesufficiently to insure the engagement of the stud with slot C. The rotation of the shank is regulated and limited bya stud Dflattached thereto and playing in a slot 0 in the sleeve, as shown. E is a spring-controlled catch attached to handle E and adapted to engage a notch C in sleeveO when the handle is turned down and hold the same in such position.

H and h are the cartridge-rests and extracting devices. 7

h is a metal plate standing just in front of block D and having its upper edge concaved to receive and fit the cap end of the cartridge. This plate is upheld by and connected to a rod 7L2, which passes and plays through alongitudinal opening in the base of sleeve 0, and is provided with a head or nut on its outer end to limit the inward movement of plate h, which can move slightly toward or from the breech-block. A spring h maybe puton rod k to normally keep rest 71, away from the breech-block. The rest H is also concaved on its upper edge to receive and support the cartridge, as shown, but is pivoted to plate B, as at 1-1, and is normally upheld by a spring H on the hinge or otherwise attached.

- The cartridge to be fired is laid upon the rests, as indicated in Fig. 1, and plate Bis then moved inward. As the end of cartridge enters the breech of barrel, rest H strikes the barrel and is tipped over, thereby turning down upon the plate B, (which is recessed or flanged, so as to accommodate the rest=,) and slides under the breech of barrel, as indicated in Fig. 2. The other end of the cartridge is upheld by rest h until the breech-block enters the breech of the barrel, which has an interior groove or channel A to accommodate the rest it and rod W, as shown,-so that when the breech-block is in position and locked there will be little or no passage of gas be- .tween the breech-block and breech of gun,

and the breech of barrel is not weakened by slotting therethrough, as would be necessary if the cartridge-rest h were supported directly upon plate B. \Vhen the plate B is drawn back, the rest 71. catches the head of cartridge, drags the shell outward, (whether exploded or not,) and just before the end of the shell passes out of the breech-rest H, coming from under the barrel, is raised by its spring and receives and upholds the shell, as at first it held the cartridge, so that it can be easily removed by the attendant. In order to facilitate the removal of shells, I may use the positive throwing-oh? device shown in drawings. This consists of a flipper-plate I, pivoted to plate B, intermediate rests II it, and normally lying flat upon the plate I is a rod pivoted at one end to an upstanding finger on plate I near the pivot thereof and extending forward past rest H to the front of the plate, where its end I is bent down to form a catch. This catch 1 plays in a longitudinal slot 1 in support A When the cartridge is in the gun, flipper I lies under the breech of the barrel, as indicated in Fig. 2. W'hen-the plate B is moved backward and after the shell is entirely withdrawn from the breech and is upheld by rests H h, as described, ,catch I is arrested by the shoulder I at the'rear end of slot 1 and thereby through rod 1 throws flipper I upward violently, and the flipper, striking the shell, knocks it from the rests. The connection between rod I and fiipper should be sufiiciently loose to let the fiippe'r drop back sufficiently to not obstruct the laying of a fresh cartridge on the rests.

It will be desirable in some cases to prevent the gun firing automatically after loading, and to do this the firing-pin must be looked just after it is cocked. This may be done by the following devices:

J designates a sear playing through a slot in the end of shank D and adapted to engage a beveled notch f in the firing-pin and upheld in engagement with the pin by a spring J.

K is a sliding bolt extending through the slotin the scar and having a wedge or cam surface k, which when the bolt is pulledoutward depre ses the scar and keeps it from engaging the firing-pin, so that when bolt K is pulled outward the sear is thrown out of engagement with the pin and so held until the sear is pushed inward. When the bolt is pulled outward, the action of the gun is automatic, and when the bolt is pushed inward the firing-pin will be cooked by the same movement of the shank which looks the block in the barrel,but will be caught by the scar and locked until released by the outward movement of the'bolt.

For rapid firing the cartridge is placed on rests H h and plate B slid inward until the cartridge and breech-block enter the barrel. Then the breech-block is given a quarter-turn by handle E, looking it to the breech by the interrupted screw-threads, as described, and in so doing the firing-pin is cocked, and just as the block is securely locked, but not before, the firing-pin is automatically released and explodes the cartridge. The breech-block is then turned back, the plate B slid out, rest It withdrawing the cartridge, as described, and flipper I knocks it out of the way, so that a new cartridge can be put in position for firing, the operation being repeated as rapidly as the cartridges can be put on the rests, the plate B slid forward, the breech-block given a quarter-turn, then reversed, and the plate B slid backward. If the automatic rapid-firing action is not desired, the sear is thrown into action and locks the firing-pin when cocked, as described, so that they can be loaded and kept so as long as desired.

It will be particularly noticed that with this gun the firing-pin will not be cooked or in position where it can operate to explode the cartridge until the breech-block is absolutely and completely locked in the gun, so that the danger of premature explosions of the cartridges before the breech is locked is absolutely prevented.

If the firing-pin spring F should become disabled for any use, the gun could be fired after the breech-block is locked by striking the end of firing-pin with a hammer.

The construction of a breech-loading gun so that the firing-pin will be cooked during the fastenih g of the breech-block by the turning of the latter and released the instant the breech-block is locked, so as to explode the cartridge simultaneously with the locking of block, I deem one of the most important features of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent thereon, is-

1. The combination of the barrel, the breech-block journaled in a carrier movable toward and from the barrel, the firing-pin in said breech-block, and the stud on said pin projecting through aslot in said breech-block and engaging a'camway in the interior face of the carrier, whereby when the breech-block is partly turned to lock it in the breech said firing-pin is cooked, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the barrel, the breech-block having a shank journaled in a carrier movable toward and from the barrel, the firing-pin lying longitudinally in said shank and breech-block, the tension-spring thereon, and the stud projecting through a slot in the shank and engaging a triangular slot in the carrier, whereby when the shank is given a partial revolution. to lock the breech-block the firing-pin will be automatically cooked and released, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

ICC

3. The combination of the barrel, the sliding plate, the breech-block carried thereby, and the cartridge rest and extractor h, carried by said plate, substantially as described.

4. The combination of the barrel, the sliding plate, the breech-block carried thereby, the rest h, and the spring-controlled rest H, carried by said plate, constructed and arranged to operate substantially as described.

5. The combination of the barrel, the carrier, the cartridge loading and unloading devices carried thereby, and the holders and flipper-plate and devices for operating the same, mounted on the carrier, whereby the exploded cartridge is knocked from the holders after it is withdrawn from the barrel, substantially as described.

6. The combination of the barrel, the slotted support attached thereto, the sliding plate moving in said support, the cartridge-rests thereon, and the flipper-plate I, mounted on said plate, and operating devices therefor, substantiallyas and for the purpose described.

l". The combination of the barrel, the slidliug plate B, and the folding rest H, the movtltble rest it, and the flipper I on said plate, all lIIitOIJSllIUCted and arranged to operate substantially as described.

ii. The combination of the carrier, the breech-block journaled thereon, the firing-pin in said block, the tension-spring therefor, the stud attached to said pin projecting through. a slot in the block and engaging an endlesa litamway in the carrier, and the rebound-spring on said pin, all substantially as and for the purpose specified.

Ill. The combination of the carrier, the breech-block journaled thereon, the firing-pin in said block, the tension-spring therefor, the tllllCl attached to said pin, projecting through it slot in the block and engagingacamway in the carrier, and the rebound-spring on said pin, and the handle and catch for turning and locking said block, substantially as and for purpose described.

l0. The combination of the barrel, the breech-block journaled in a carrier movable toward and from the barrel, the firing-pin in said breech-block, and the stud on said pin projecting through a slot in said breech-block I and engaging a cam way in the carrier, whereby when the breech-b1ock is partly turned to lock it in the breech said firing-pin is cooked, in combination with a sear adapted to engage said pin and a sliding bolt for operating said sear, substantially as described.

ill. The combination of the carrier, the breech-block journaled thereon,the firing-pin in said block, the tension-spring therefor, the stud attached to said pin projecting through it slot in the block and engaging a camway in the carrier, and the rebound-spring on said pin with the sear for locking said pin and the controlling devices therefor, substantially its and for the purpose set forth.

it. The combination of the barrel, the llreechblock, and the interrupted screw-fastening between said breech-block and barrel, and the rest and extractor attached to said block and adapted to enteraslotin the breech of the barrel below the breech-block, substantially as and for the purpose descr bed.

13. The combination, with the fir1ng-pin, of the sear J and slidable bolt K, having an mcliried shoulder or bevel k, adapted to engage and depress said sear when the bolt is drawn outward,substantially as and for the purpose specified.

14. The combination of the carrier, the sleeve thereon, the breech -block ha v1ng a shank journaled in said sleeve, the firing-pin journaled in said shank and PIOJGGtlDg lZhGIG- through, the spring on said pin within the shank,and the stud projecting through a slot in said shank and engagingatriangulareamway in the sleeve, and the handle for turning said shank, and the slot and pin for limiting the rotation thereof, substantially as described.

15. The combination of the carrier, the sleeve thereon, the breech-block havinga shank journaled in said sleeve, the tiring-pin journaled in said shank and pro ecting therethrough, the spring on said pin within the shank, and the stud projecting through a slot in said shank and engaging a triangular camwayin the sleeve, and the handle for turn ng said shank, and the slot and pin for llmiting the rotation thereof, and the cartridge holding and extracting devices carried by said carrier in front of and below said breechblock, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALFONSO MERCER.

Witnesses:

C. W. SEVILLE, ARTHUR E. DOWELL. 

